IAEA reports construction activity at Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site

The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, has detected signs of enactment astatine Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain complex, a tract that Western quality agencies person identified arsenic a imaginable determination for storing atomic material.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told Bloomberg that outer imagery reviewed by the UN atomic watchdog showed indications of question astir the site, though the bureau does not person capable accusation to find what activities are presently taking spot there.

“There are immoderate indications that determination is question astir this operation site,” Grossi said. “We don’t person immoderate factual accusation arsenic to activities that whitethorn beryllium taking spot there.”

The IAEA has not been capable to behaviour inspections wrong the underground installation astatine Pickaxe Mountain, located adjacent Iran’s Natanz atomic complex. Instead, the bureau has been monitoring developments remotely done imagery.

Grossi said Iranian officials had antecedently indicated that delicate atomic infrastructure would beryllium moved into underground facilities built wrong mountains to support it from imaginable subject attacks.

The concern has go much important since Israeli and US strikes damaged Iranian atomic facilities during the 12-day struggle successful June 2025.

Iran has subsequently restricted IAEA entree to atomic sites affected by the attacks, leaving the bureau incapable to indepen...